S01E21 Taiping Rebellion: The First City

Chinese Revolutions: A History Podcast

S01E21 The Taiping Rebellion: They Take their First City

In this episode, we talk about the Taiping occupation of the city of Yongan. Taking control of a city gives them the resources and facilities to develop their movement. Hong Xiuquan writes more advanced indoctrination materials, noble titles and hereditary offices are created for Taiping leaders, the troops are straightened out and re-disciplined, traitors hunted out and executed.

Hypocrisy and Revolution

We see Hong Xiuquan start to distance himself from the rank and file frontline reality. But is that hypocrisy that would delegitimize a revolution? We talk about what would destroy a revolution's credibility.

If it's going to be REALLY delegitimizing:

• the leaders have to not really believe in the core ideology, it's all just a manipulative device
• no principles explain why the elites follow different rules, though a leadership class lives differently, they should still somehow be connected to the rank and file

One other delegitimizing thing: If the ideology isn't true, doesn't make sense of the real world, just doesn't work.

The Military Situation

The Taiping Rebellion was in the city of Yongan for six months. The opposing Qing forces were constantly harassing and building up siege capacities against the Taiping rebels.

A city is something you don't only have one of. You need the surrounding countryside, supporting towns, etc. The Taiping will make a withdrawal and hit the road once again.

With a skillful use of explosives and prearranged rockfalls, the Taiping conduct a fighting withdrawal from Yongan and go up into the mountains, defeating the pursuing Qing.

They are going to follow the Yangtze River up to Nanjing, to establish their base for the next ten years.

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